BUDDY ZABALA (BASS TALKS)

(The Bassists Edition)

(Buddy Zabala bassist for Eraserheads/The Dawn)

An iconic figure in comrade with the icon himself, Ely Buendia. Gone were the days when Buddy Zababa of the then Eraserheads had been plucking his bass strings audible and loud enough that “Huling El Bimbo” is almost done. He has been a long-time bass player of a phenomenal rock act that draws indelible marks on OPM history.

After the glorious days with Eraserheads, he finds himself extending his creative tentacles to his new band “The Dawn.” Spawning his talent – in base particularly – seems to define what a buddy of music he is. This time at our anniversary issue, he's doin some!

What he expects in life is to play piano and synth, little did he know that he would, at the outset, be playing and enjoying bass guitar 'till his hands bled. “I always thought that upon joining a band I’d play piano and synth. Little did I know that the bands I wanted to play for needed bass musicians more. So, lucky me,” he commenced.

Bass musical charisma has its definitive influence and characteristics on all others which Buddy himself thought he was in love with, “bass instruments in modern music seems to have a powerful influence on the vibe and feel of a song. It’s not influential in an obvious way, the way drums are at first hearing. It’s more understated and has a way of growing on you. Yeah, I love playing the bass,” he asserts.

Nobler in this is that his knowledgeableness of his responsibility as a bassist to his fellow band mates and a brother at the same time. “I’m supposed to help keep the time and anchor the music to a certain key or harmony. Groove and vibe are other jobs bass players have to aspire to,” he explains.


BASE TALKS

Who are the bassist/s that you look to for inspiration?
Jaco has got to be the most-mentioned, quoted bassist out there. It’s too bad that he isn’t alive anymore. Try to imagine the kind of music he’d be making today! Louie Talan, Rommel de le Cruz, Meong Pacana, Colby de la Calzada are some of the talented and hard-working bass players in Manila whom any bassist should look to for inspiration. Cynthia Alexander, Dondi Ledesma, Angelo Villegas, Mally Paraguya… the list goes on.
Just go to a local bar/venue and check them out if they’re in town.

On influences, what bass parts were the most fun to reinterpret?
For me, the most fun part of getting into a musician’s mind is trying to imagine how he/she came up with that particular bass line or passage of music. That way it’s easier to reinterpret o play around with an existing piece.


What kind of warm-up exercises do you do?
I’ll do scales slowly a few minutes before a gig. You have to make sure that both of your hands are working, um, hand in hand.

What's the heart of your technique?
Oh, just keeping an open mind, or in this case ear, is enough for me. You never know what’s going to happen onstage. Being ready for anything is best. And breathing properly is of utmost importance, this gem of advice I got from Cynthia Alexander. I’m still learning that one.

What can you tell about your plucking and picking techniques?
Make sure that when you pluck or pick the string, your fretting hand has to make its own action of striking the note. That way, you’re maximizing the amount of tone.

What are some of the things that have influenced your sound?
I have started using smaller gauge strings.

What do you think makes a great bass line?
I enjoy playing a great bass line as much as the audience who hears and reacts to it. That musical passage must evoke a certain feeling from both the performer and listener

Do you play pick?
Yes, please.

How do you view the role of the bass in your music?
Bass makes things vibrate, it moves people.

What part of your bass playing are you experimenting with the most?
Note length, I guess. Shorter notes seem to work better in small, enclosed venues.

What's one of your greatest strengths as a bass player?
I’d have to say – having an open ear, and being ready to go where the band needs to go.

What have you learned from your years of playing bass?
Making music is fun! That’s why we get into it in the first place.

How has your playing attitude changed over the years?
Holding down the groove has become more important than showing off.

Where do your bass lines come in when recording an album?
They come in right after the drums. 1,2,3,4…

How has your bass style evolved through the course of your band's career?
Less is more. I’ve been trying to apply that to number of notes I play in a song.

How does your live playing differ from your studio approach?
Live, it’s 1234 boom! No going back. In the studio, you can overdub and take your time.

Which one of your songs gives you the biggest thrill when you're up there on stage?
It’s usually the song I’m playing for the first time, the one I’m least familiar with.

What's something you've learned lately, either on the road or in the studio?
Digital equipment have low tolerances for low voltage or power surges. They tend to act up in the middle of a performance.

Is there a certain sound that your listeners have come to expect from your band?
I don’t know.

What musical concept have you had to learn the hard way?
Keeping time takes a lot of practice.

What non-musical thing inspires you the most?
People inspire me the most.

What are your preferences when buying a bass guitar?
I have to like the way it looks first, the way it makes a sound, and then the way it feels.

Your tips when playing bass guitar?
Practice makes perfect. Performing is fun! Keep it light. It’s just music, eventually.

♫♫♫